Penguin Facts and Information There are several species of penguins considered in grave danger to become extinct by the IUCN Red list. Read More… Introduction to Penguins Penguins are flightless aquatic birds living mostly in the southern hemisphere of the Earth, except for a single species which lives near the Equator. Some experts have argued about their classification as birds due to their inability to fly and having stiff flippers instead of soft and flexible wings. However, most scientists believe that those are not the only reason to consider an animal as a bird; features like a beak, plumage or laying eggs and some other anatomical characteristics are determinant to classify them as birds. Nevertheless, penguins are the only family of water birds that cannot fly; most believe that this was part of a natural process of evolution and adaptation to a habitat where there was no need to migrate long distances or flee from many predators. Instead, they evolved to have an improved anatomical design to be agile underwater and regulate their body temperature according to weather conditions of their habitat. Penguin fossils dating back about 60 million years show that they were much larger and heavier than most modern penguins whose descendants date back to three million years ago.

This family of birds was discovered by the Western civilization in the late fifteen century when sailors of the northern hemisphere found on the Argentine coast, a group of birds that were black and white. These birds were very similar to the now extinct Giant Alca also called Great Penguin (Pinguinus impennis), a bird who lived in the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, so in consequence, they decided to name them “Penguins.” The number of recognized species is controversial. For most scientists, there are 17 types of penguin divided into six genera, but some others classify some species as subspecies or just group them in a different way according to their geographical location. Aptenodytes forsteri, the Emperor penguin, is the largest of all species of penguins, with a height of up to 4 feet; and the Eudyptula minor, the little penguin, is currently the smallest with a maximum height of 1.25 feet. Fossils of primitive species like the Anthropornis genus, which lived millions years ago, have proved that they reached up to 5’7’’ feet tall and weight around 200 lb., the largest ever found.

Penguin Information, Anatomy, Feeding, Habitat, Reproduction, Conservation,Evolution, Communication, Predators and Penguin Social Structure. Penguin Facts, Emperor Penguin, King Penguin, Adelie Penguin, Humboldt Penguin The penguins that inhabit icy regions have rigid waterproof feathers, fat under their skin and a layer of air that keep them thermoregulated to avoid hypothermia; additionally, they are anatomically larger to store more fat, heat, and energy. That is how they manage to submerge into cold waters or withstand the mighty polar winds of their environment. The species that inhabit warmer areas are visibly thinner, due to the lower amount of fat and plumage in their bodies, and they are smaller with less submerging capabilities compared to their Antarctic relatives. A nasal gland excretes the excessive amount of salt introduced into their bodies while they feed in the ocean eliminating the sodium chloride from their bloodstream; otherwise, they could not survive.

While most penguins have the unique black and white plumage reminiscent of a tuxedo, some individuals suffer albinism (absence of melanin), and approximately one hundred thousand are isabelline, which means that they have small amounts of melanin, so instead of looking black they look lighter or very light brown. Have you ever wondered why some penguins have pink patches on their faces? While penguins are well adapted to endure cold temperatures, those living in warm environments, could overheat, but those spots without plumage help them radiate excessive heat and keep them cool. The design of their beak is another adaptation that varies in each species according to the type of food they get. Banded and crested penguins that feed mainly on fish and squid have a beak with a sharp tip in the upper jaw similar to a hook, to hold their prey better. Additionally, all 17 species of penguins have porous tongues equipped with small barbs pointing backward, which help grasp the prey better and prevent it from slipping away. Indeed, penguins are fully adapted to their habitat and its conditions, although they are birds, they possess unique and custom features that help them survive under such conditions.

Penguins split into six groups according to their genus: Aptenodytes genus or large penguins – Emperor penguin Eudyptula genus or little penguins – Little Blue Penguin Pygoscelis genus or brush-tailed penguins – Gentoo penguin Megadyptes genus or Yellow-eyed penguins – Yellow-eyed penguin Feeding All penguin species feed at sea, regardless the place where they live. Some can dive to a depth of 1,800 feet looking for food and stay underwater for more than 20 minutes. Most of the seventeen species feed on small fish, squid or krill. Reproduction Penguins spend much of their lives at sea, but they all return to the land to lay their eggs and reproduce. Except for the large species that lay only one egg per clutch, the other fifteen species lay two eggs per clutch, but in every case, the male and the female share parenting duties. Text Data Anatomy Penguins rely on their specialized feathers to resist the cold weather. Besides, they have a layer of air next to their skin, which insulates their body from the freezing temperatures and retains the heat generated by muscular activity in the body.

Conservation According to the Red List of Threatened Species, only three species of penguins are “Least Concern,” five are “Near threatened,” five are “Vulnerable, ” and four are “Endangered.” Population The most abundant species of penguin is the “Macaroni” with an approximate population of 20 to 25 Million individuals while there are only around 1,800 Galapagos penguins left in the wild. Among all 17 species, three of them have an increasing population, three have a stable number, and the remaining 11 have a decreasing tendency. Size comparison The largest penguin is the Emperor penguin with an average height ranging from 44 to 48 in and the smallest is the little penguin with an average height ranging from 13 to 15 inches. Types of Penguins There are 17 penguin species. Types of Penguins You can find the most common species of penguins like the Emperor Penguin , the Adelie Penguin , the King Penguin , the Galapagos Penguin , the Humboldt Penguin , the Macaroni Penguin , the Little Blue or Fairy Penguin , the Rockhopper Penguin and the African Penguin .

Penguin Information The information provided about penguins in this site, includes an explanation of the Penguin Anatomy , followed by details about the Penguin Reproduction and what do penguins eat? . Penguin communication is basic for its survival in one of the most extremes habitats in the planet. For this, a social structure is also important. Penguin distribution will show how penguins are located around the globe and how they have evolved besides the main predators that have endangered them. Humans & Penguins Penguins have been part of human history for a few centuries now, which have inspired great books and films . However the relationship between humans and penguins has a not so pleasant side, which includes ruthless hunting for centuries. Lately humans have invested in penguin conservation and research as well as popular education through the knowledge provided by penguins in captivity . Frequently Asked Questions about Penguins Penguin | Species | WWF Penguin Donateh Overview Penguins are a family of 17 to 19 species of birds that live primarily in the Southern Hemisphere.

They include the tiny blue penguins of Australia and New Zealand, the majestic emperor penguins of Antarctica and king penguins found on many sub- Antarctic islands, the endangered African penguin and the Galápagos penguin—the only penguin to be found north of the equator. b Scientific Name 15 inches to 3 ½ feet d Weight 2 pounds to 80 pounds e Habitats Oceans, Coasts Though they are birds, penguins have flippers instead of wings. They cannot fly and on land they waddle walking upright—though when snow conditions are right they will slide on their bellies. In the water they are expert swimmers and divers, and some species can reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. The penguin’s distinctive coloring—black body with white belly—helps camouflage the bird in the water as it searches for meals of small shrimp, fish, crabs and squid. The Antarctic Peninsula, where half of the world’s emperor penguins and 70% of the Adelie penguins can be found, is heating up faster than the global average and melting the sea ice that the penguins depend on for places to breed and access to food.

• fairy (little blue) - Eudyptula minor • Magellanic - Spheniscus magellanicus • African (formerly known as black-footed) - Spheniscus demersus • Galapagos - Spheniscus mendiculus FAST FACTS DESCRIPTION: The upright body posture and mostly black-and-white coloration makes penguins easy to distinguish from other birds. As with other marine animals, penguins have a fusiform (tapered) shape. The forelimbs are modified into flippers, the tail is short and wedge-shaped and the hind limbs are set far back on the body, which is supported on land by webbed feet. Species-specific markings on the head and facial areas make it easy to tell the adults of most penguin species apart. MALE Male and female penguins of most species are not sexually dimorphic. The exception is the crested penguins in which males are more robust and have larger bills. SIZE: The emperor penguin is the largest penguin, standing 112 cm (44 in) tall. The smallest penguin is the fairy penguin, standing just 41 cm (16 in).

WEIGHT: Of the 18 penguin species, emperor penguins weigh the most at 27-41 kg (60-90 lbs). In contrast, the fairy penguin is the lightest, weighing roughly 1 kg (2.2 lbs). DIET: Depends on the species - fishes, squid and krill (a shrimplike crustacean) INCUBATION: In most species of penguins, both the male and female parent takes turns incubating the egg. In emperor penguins, the female transfers a newly laid egg to her mate's feet, and then leaves to feed at sea while the male incubates the egg for as long as 66 days. The incubation period lasts anywhere from 4 weeks (erect-crested penguins) to 66 days (emperor penguins). For most species, breeding season occurs from the Southern hemisphere's spring through summer period. The primary exception is the emperor penguin which breeds during the Southern hemisphere's winter period. CLUTCH SIZE Emperor and king penguins typically lay a single egg, whereas penguins of other species usually lay two eggs.

SEXUAL MATURITY: For most species, the average lifespan is 15-20 years although some individuals live much longer. RANGE: All penguins live south of the equator, from the icy waters of Antarctica to the tropical Galápagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador, just south of the equator. HABITAT: Tend to inhabit islands and remote landmasses that are relatively free from land predators. Some species spend nearly 75% of their life at sea. POPULATION: GLOBAL Chinstrap penguins may be the most numerous penguin species, with a population estimated at 6.5 million breeding pairs. The vulnerable yellow-eyed penguin population is estimated at less than 7,000. STATUS: Humboldt penguin - Appendix I; African penguin - Appendix II USFWS The Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is listed as Endangered OTHER All Antarctic penguins are legally protected by the Antarctic Treaty. Penguins are vulnerable to habitat destruction, overfishing of primary food sources, ecological disasters such as oil spills and human encroachment into nesting areas. FUN FACTS 1.

All penguins live south of the equator, from the icy waters of Antarctica to the tropical Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador, almost astride the equator. 2. Penguins are specialized marine birds adapted to living at sea. Some species spend as much as 75% of their lives in the sea - only coming ashore for breeding and molting. Penguin wings are paddle-like flippers used for swimming, not flying. 3. Penguins have denser feathers than most other types of birds having as many as 70 feathers per square inch. These feathers are spaced very closely and tufted with down on the shafts to help keep the penguins warm. 4. Adult penguins are countershaded (dark dorsal, light ventral) which helps to conceal swimming penguins from predators such as killer whales, sharks or leopard seals. When viewed from above, the dark dorsal side blends in with the darker ocean depths. When viewed from beneath, the light ventral side helps in with the lighter surface of the sea. 5. Antarctic species of penguins can move quickly on ice by tobogganing on their bellies using their flippers and feet to help propel them along. 6.

Chinstrap penguins may be the most numerous penguin, with a population estimated at 12-13 million. 7. The most vulnerable penguin is the yellow-eyed penguin, which inhabits the coasts and offshore islands of southeast New Zealand. The yellow-eyed penguin population is estimated at less than 7,000. 8. For more in-depth information, explore the PENGUIN INFOBOOK . ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION The Antarctic Treaty legally protects all Antarctic penguins. Penguins are vulnerable to habitat destruction, overfishing of primary food sources, ecological disasters such as oil spills, and human encroachment into nesting areas. Collectively, SeaWorld Adventure Parks have maintained nine species of penguins, all of which have successfully reproduced. SeaWorld, San Diego has hatched over 500 penguins. This is the only place outside of Antarctica that emperor penguins have successfully reproduced. To date 20 emperor penguins have hatched and been raised at SeaWorld, San Diego. In addition, the Humboldt penguins at SeaWorld are part of the species survival program (SSP) of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association in an attempt to ensure the survival of this endangered species.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Coates, J. Penguins: Flightless Birds of the Southern Hemisphere. San Diego. SeaWorld, Inc. 2001. Oki, D. Penguins. San Diego. SeaWorld, Inc. 1996. Peterson, R.T. Penguins. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1979. audubon.org/bird/BoA/BOA_index.html Photos of Flightless Birds: All 18 Penguin Species Photos of Flightless Birds: All 18 Penguin Species By Clara Moskowitz | September 10, 2010 11:40am ET MORE Emperor Penguin Credit: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA Penguins are a group of non-flying aquatic birds that live in the Southern Hemisphere. They include 18 species 13 of which are either threatened or endangered. With their habitats and food supply under threat from humans and climate change, it could take a major effort to save some of these creatures from extinction. Clara Moskowitz is a senior writer for LiveScience , a sister site to OurAmazingPlanet.

Galápagos penguins The Galápagos penguin, endemic to the ((CONLINK|6800|GalÃ Emperor penguins Credit: Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR Emperor penguins are the largest of the penguin species, and mate and breed on the ice of Antarctica. They make a harrowing trek across up to 75 miles (120 kilometers) of ice to reach breeding colonies during the frigid Antarctic winter. While this life can be rather austere, for now it is sustaining: Emperor penguins are rated of least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Female emperor penguins hatch an egg, and the males incubate it while she forages for food. After chicks are born males and females take turns diving for food and caring for the young. Humboldt penguins Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Drcwp1 Humboldt penguins are native to the Southern Hemisphere, but these Humboldts live at Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The species is rated vulnerable to extinction, and has been strongly impacted by El Nino , which changes the water temperature and reduced the amount of food available for the penguins. African penguins Credit: dreamstime African penguins, a once robust iconic species in Namibia and South Africa, have experienced a precipitous decline and were recently reclassified as endangered. Chinstrap penguins Credit: Lieutenant Philip Hall, NOAA Corps Chinstrap penguins, found on barren islands and large icebergs around Antarctica, are not endangered. This is an adult chinstrap penguin at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island. King penguins Credit: Lieutenant Philip Hall, NOAA Corps This long-distance forager species is stable, but one study found that their average foraging range has recently doubled, meaning they are having to travel farther to find food. They are the second largest penguin species in the world, following the Emperor. Magellanic penguins Credit: Graham Harris/Wildlife Conservation Society These South American penguins breed in coastal Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands.

While at one point within the last few decades there were thought to be about 6 million breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins in the wild, now there are estimated to be only 1 million pairs. They are rated near-threatened. Adelie penguins Credit: Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR These penguins are found on the coast of Antarctica . Here an Adelie penguin nurses its egg. Rockhopper penguins Credit: Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR Rockhopper penguins include two species the northern and southern rockhopper. The population of northern rockhoppers has declined by 90 percent over the last 50 years, according to a 2009 paper in the journal Bird Conservation International. They have been strongly affected by algal blooms and oil dumping in the oceans, as well as competition for prey with commercial fisheries. Gentoo penguins Credit: Zee Evans, National Science Foundation A gentoo penguin on Petermann Island, near the Antarctic Peninsula. Gentoos' long stiff tail feathers are the most prominent of all penguins.

Macaroni penguins Credit: Commander Richard Behn, NOAA Corps This species, with its signature orange tuft, is found from subantarctic regions to the Antarctic Peninsula. Macaroni penguins are rated vulnerable due to climate change , overfishing and chronic oil pollution. Little blue penguins Credit: dreamstime These are the smallest penguins in the world, and are found on Australia and New Zealand. While they are not considered endangered, they are losing some habitat due to urban encroachment. Royal penguins Credit: Mike Usher, National Science Foundation This species native to the waters around Antarctica is considered vulnerable. Here are baby royal penguins on Macquarie Island, which is also home to king, gentoo and rockhopper penguins. Erect-crested penguins Credit: dreamstime This penguin found on offshore islands of New Zealand is endangered, most likely due to disease, prey availability and climate change. They have seen a roughly 70 percent population decline over 20 years. Fiordland penguins Credit: Taronga Zoo Another New Zealand penguin, this vulnerable species is strongly impacted by mammals that have been introduced to the island by humans.

These two female penguins, Chalky and Milford, live at the Taronga Zoo in Austraila. Yellow-eyed penguins Credit: dreamstime These New Zealand penguins are endangered, primarily due to habitat encroachment from agriculture. Here, a yellow eyed penguin looks aside on the beach at Curio Bay, New Zealand South Island. Snares penguins Credit: Thomas Mattern, University of Otago Also native to New Zealand, this species has lost about 13 percent of its population over 10 years. Author Bio Clara Moskowitz, Clara has a bachelor's degree in astronomy and physics from Wesleyan University, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has written for both Space.com and Live Science. Clara Moskowitz, on Emperor Penguin Credit: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA Penguins are a group of non-flying aquatic birds that live in the Southern Hemisphere. They include 18 species 13 of which are either threatened or endangered. With their habitats and food supply under threat from humans and climate change, it could take a major effort to save some of these creatures from extinction.

Clara Moskowitz is a senior writer for LiveScience , a sister site to OurAmazingPlanet. Galápagos penguins The Galápagos penguin, endemic to the ((CONLINK|6800|GalÃ Emperor penguins Credit: Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR Emperor penguins are the largest of the penguin species, and mate and breed on the ice of Antarctica. They make a harrowing trek across up to 75 miles (120 kilometers) of ice to reach breeding colonies during the frigid Antarctic winter. While this life can be rather austere, for now it is sustaining: Emperor penguins are rated of least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Female emperor penguins hatch an egg, and the males incubate it while she forages for food. After chicks are born males and females take turns diving for food and caring for the young. Humboldt penguins Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Drcwp1 Humboldt penguins are native to the Southern Hemisphere, but these Humboldts live at Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The species is rated vulnerable to extinction, and has been strongly impacted by El Nino , which changes the water temperature and reduced the amount of food available for the penguins. African penguins Credit: dreamstime African penguins, a once robust iconic species in Namibia and South Africa, have experienced a precipitous decline and were recently reclassified as endangered. Chinstrap penguins Credit: Lieutenant Philip Hall, NOAA Corps Chinstrap penguins, found on barren islands and large icebergs around Antarctica, are not endangered. This is an adult chinstrap penguin at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island. King penguins Credit: Lieutenant Philip Hall, NOAA Corps This long-distance forager species is stable, but one study found that their average foraging range has recently doubled, meaning they are having to travel farther to find food. They are the second largest penguin species in the world, following the Emperor. Magellanic penguins Credit: Graham Harris/Wildlife Conservation Society These South American penguins breed in coastal Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands.

While at one point within the last few decades there were thought to be about 6 million breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins in the wild, now there are estimated to be only 1 million pairs. They are rated near-threatened. Adelie penguins Credit: Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR These penguins are found on the coast of Antarctica . Here an Adelie penguin nurses its egg. Rockhopper penguins Credit: Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR Rockhopper penguins include two species the northern and southern rockhopper. The population of northern rockhoppers has declined by 90 percent over the last 50 years, according to a 2009 paper in the journal Bird Conservation International. They have been strongly affected by algal blooms and oil dumping in the oceans, as well as competition for prey with commercial fisheries. Gentoo penguins Credit: Zee Evans, National Science Foundation A gentoo penguin on Petermann Island, near the Antarctic Peninsula. Gentoos' long stiff tail feathers are the most prominent of all penguins.

Macaroni penguins Credit: Commander Richard Behn, NOAA Corps This species, with its signature orange tuft, is found from subantarctic regions to the Antarctic Peninsula. Macaroni penguins are rated vulnerable due to climate change , overfishing and chronic oil pollution. Little blue penguins Credit: dreamstime These are the smallest penguins in the world, and are found on Australia and New Zealand. While they are not considered endangered, they are losing some habitat due to urban encroachment. Royal penguins Credit: Mike Usher, National Science Foundation This species native to the waters around Antarctica is considered vulnerable. Here are baby royal penguins on Macquarie Island, which is also home to king, gentoo and rockhopper penguins. Erect-crested penguins Credit: dreamstime This penguin found on offshore islands of New Zealand is endangered, most likely due to disease, prey availability and climate change. They have seen a roughly 70 percent population decline over 20 years. Fiordland penguins Credit: Taronga Zoo Another New Zealand penguin, this vulnerable species is strongly impacted by mammals that have been introduced to the island by humans.

These two female penguins, Chalky and Milford, live at the Taronga Zoo in Austraila. Yellow-eyed penguins Credit: dreamstime These New Zealand penguins are endangered, primarily due to habitat encroachment from agriculture. Here, a yellow eyed penguin looks aside on the beach at Curio Bay, New Zealand South Island. Snares penguins Credit: Thomas Mattern, University of Otago Also native to New Zealand, this species has lost about 13 percent of its population over 10 years. Virtual Antarctica Science: Penguins Flightless Birds Penguins are flightless birds which have adapted to living in the cooler waters of the Southern Hemisphere. The 17 species of penguins found today are thought to have evolved from petrel-like flying birds some 50 million years ago. Some species spend as much as 75% of their lives in the ocean, yet they all breed on land or sea-ice attached to the land. All penguins have a very similar torpedo-shaped body form, though they vary greatly in size. Penguin wings are highly modified to form stiff paddle-like flippers used for swimming, and their feet and stubby tails combine to form a rudder.

The penguin's bones are solid and heavy, which help them to remain submerged and reduce the energy needed for diving. Penguins are able to withstand the extreme cold because insulation provided by their short, densely-packed feathers forms a waterproof coat. A thick layer of fat or blubber also serves as an energy store. These adaptations, among others, enable them to minimize heat loss in icy cold waters so they can cope with the harsh conditions of the Antarctic. Return Behavior Penguins communicate by complex ritual behaviors such as head and flipper waving, calling, bowing, gesturing and preening. Territorial disputes lead to aggressive postures such as stares, pointing and even charging. Courtship and mating rituals include so called "ecstatic displays" where a bird, typically an unattached male, pumps his chest several times and, with his head stretched upwards and flippers akimbo, emits a harsh loud braying sound. This can result in a mass trumpeting by other males, which is believed to help synchronize the breeding cycle. Return Breeding All the Antarctic penguin species save the Emperor breed in the brief austral (southern) summer months.

Mating takes place in spring for the three "brush tailed" (pygoscelid) species -- the Chinstrap, Gentoo and Adelie -- who make their nests out of rocks, bones and feathers. Adult pairs take turns incubating their eggs and feeding the chicks once they have hatched. Antarctic penguins feed mostly on fish, squid and krill, a shrimp-like crustacean which is the key species in the Antarctic ecosystem. Return Locomotion Penguins are very efficient swimmers. Though they are comfortable at speeds around 5 mph (8 km/ph), some species can travel at 7 mph (12 km/ph) in short bursts. When traveling quickly, penguins will leap clear of the water every few feet -- an action called "porpoising" due to its resemblance to porpoise behavior. This enables them to breathe, and decreases their chances of being taken by a predator. Antarctic penguins have also developed the ability to leap out of the water to a substantial height on land, enabling them to reach raised ice edges or rock ledges. Penguin legs are set far down on their bodies, so they walk with a very erect posture.

Ashore they are often awkward, waddling and hopping over rocks; on snow they sometimes push themselves along on their stomachs. Return (540k) Colonies Antarctic penguins are highly social birds which usually breed in large colonies called "rookeries". Healthy adult penguins have no predators on land, so they have no natural fear of humans. While they don't like to be approached directly, they will sometimes come quite close to a quiet observer due to their own natural curiosity. They do have predators, however: skuas and southern giant petrels will attack chicks and sick or injured adults. Return Adelie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) With its white "shirt" front and white ring around its eyes, the Adelie (ah-DAY-lee) is the stereotypical penguin. They are the smallest and most widely distributed penguins in the Antarctic -- adults weigh only about 12 pounds (5.5 kg) and stand but 28 inches (71cm) high. Named after the wife of the French explorer Admiral Durmont d' Urville, the Adelie is also the most commonly studied of all the penguin species.

It is estimated there are some 2.5 million pairs of Adelies around the continent. Adelie colonies form on islands, beaches and headlands all around the Antarctic coast. The presence of groups of hundreds of thousands of birds is not unusual. Adelie penguins come ashore in October to breed during the brief weeks of summer. Mating takes place once the pair establishes a rocky nest. Older birds tend to stake nesting sites in the middle of the colony where they are better protected from marauding skuas. There is fierce competition for nesting sites, especially on the higher well-drained ground -- stealing pebbles from neighboring birds' nests is a favorite pastime. The first eggs are laid in early November; if the incubating egg is left unattended for more than an hour or two, it will cool and become infertile. When nests are abandoned the eggs are easy prey for skuas, which are the Adelie penguin's main enemy on land. Males and females take turns incubating the eggs. Within hours of laying the eggs, the female returns to the sea, leaving the male to stand alone for up to ten days while his partner feeds.

Most pairs produce two eggs separated by an interval of two to three days, and incubation takes about thirty days. While the two chicks hatch almost simultaneously, inevitably one chick is stronger and consequently better able to win food from its parents. The chicks are fed from the crop of whichever parent is present at the time. The chicks are brooded closely by their parents for the first two to three weeks and their appetite is considerable. Growing rapidly, the chicks soon develop a thick woolly gray down and quickly become almost as large as their parents. During the third or fourth week they join other chicks in crèches or nursery groups. This leaves both parents free to go to sea to feed themselves in order to satisfy their chicks' increasing demands for food. A parade of adults can regularly be seen moving between the colony and the sea. The birds congregate in large numbers at the water's edge waiting for the appropriate moment to take the plunge. The Adelie's main oceanic predators are the leopard seals which often lie in wait beneath the ledges to snare the first penguin into the water. By late March most Adelies have left the colonies to spend the winter in the comparative warmth of the offshore pack ice.

Adelie penguins provided generations of early explorers with entertainment, palatable eggs, and tough but tasty meat. Through detailed studies of the birds's breeding and eating behavior, scientists today use the Adelie as an indicator species to monitor the abundance of krill, so important to the web of Antarctic life. Return Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) The most regal of species, the Emperor is the largest living penguin, standing 40 to 50 inches (100 to 130 cm) and weighing from 66 to 83 pounds (30 to 33 kg ). There are some 350,000 of these elegantly painted birds in about forty Emperor penguin colonies scattered around the fringes of the Antarctic continent. The colonies are usually found on sea-ice during the winter and spring months, when temperatures are as low as - 65° F ( - 60° C) and winds reach velocities of up to 112 miles per hour (180 km/ph). Emperor penguins are the most biologically interesting of the southern species.

They have been recorded diving to a depth of more than 1500 feet (450 m) for up to 18 minutes, although the usual depth and duration of their dives is much less. But it is their unique breeding behavior that differentiates the Emperor from other penguin species. Rather than breeding during the warmer, lighter summer months, Emperors breed through the cold, dark winter. The female lays a single egg in May after a 63-day gestation period, and then passes the egg over to her mate and goes to sea to feed. When the male takes over the incubation, he fasts for 9 weeks, all the while balancing the egg on his feet, where it is insulated by a thick roll of skin and feathers. During this period the males huddle together for added warmth and protection against the bitter winds and sub-zero temperatures. By the time the female returns the male will have lost up to one third of his body weight; she takes over feeding the now-hatched chick for a six week period, while the male makes another long trek over the ice -- up to 60 miles (100 kms) to find food.

Once the young are about seven weeks old, they join other chicks in a crèche, which is protected by a few adults. By January the sea-ice begins to break out, but by this time the chicks have begun to shed their soft down and are able to fend for themselves. The Emperors are believed to have developed this winter breeding pattern to allow the chick to grow to independence at a time when food is most plentiful. The large size of the adults means they can store enough fat to withstand the long winter weeks without regular feeding. Return Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) Gentoos (jen-TOOs) are found over the widest range of any penguin, appearing on the coastal islands as well as the cooler sub-antarctic islands. The Gentoo penguin is the largest of the brush-tailed genus, averaging some 30 inches (75 cm) and weighing 12 pounds (5.5kg). They breed mainly on the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-antarctic islands. Two eggs are laid in September or October and hatching usually takes about 35 to 39 days from the laying of the last egg.

The second egg is smaller than the first, and is laid three days later. After they are three-quarters grown, the young can look after themselves and leave the nests to form large crèches, usually in January. Gentoos are thought to fish closer to the surface than other species, although they can dive to at least 330 feet (100m). Return Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) Chinstrap penguins are named for the distinctive narrow band of black feathers that extends from ear to ear. Chinstraps may be the most numerous of penguins, with a population estimated at 12 to 13 million. Yet they occur only on the Antarctic Peninsula and the sub-antarctic islands south of the Antarctic Convergence. For nesting, they often select lofty sites that are the first to become snow-free, to ensure the maximum amount of time to raise their chicks. Chinstraps are regarded as the boldest and most pugnacious of the pygoscelid species; they average 28 to 29 inches (71 to 76 cm) in height and weigh some 8.6 to 9.7 pounds (3.9 - 4.4 kg).

Return The Crested Penguins Other species of penguins found in Antarctica occur mostly in the warmer sub-antarctic regions to the north, away from the limit of the pack-ice. These include the Rockhopper, the Macaroni (both of the crested genus), and the King penguin. The King breeds on South Georgia, and Macquarie and Heard islands, while the Macaroni occurs as far south as the South Shetlands. Rockhopper penguins do not breed south of Heard Island (53°S), located in the mid-South Atlantic between South America and Australia. Return Photography �Jonathan Chester, Extreme Images Penguin Facts: Species & Habitat Penguin Facts: Species & Habitat By Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor | September 22, 2014 04:30pm ET MORE Credit: Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR Penguins are torpedo-shaped, flightless birds that live in the southern regions of the Earth. Though many people imagine a small, black-and-white animal when they think of penguins, these birds actually come in a variety of sizes, and some are very colorful. For example, crested penguins sport a crown of yellow feathers.

Blushes of orange and yellow mark the necks of emperor and king penguins. What look like bright yellow, bushy eyebrows adorn the heads of some species, such as the Fiordland, royal, Snares and rockhopper penguins. The macaroni penguin's name comes from the crest of yellow feathers on its head, which looks like the 18th-century hats of the same name. A light yellow mask covers the face of the yellow-eyed penguin around the eyes. An Adélie penguin on Penguin Island, which forms part of the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. Credit: Gemma Clucas According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), there are 19 species of penguin. (Some experts, however, say the eastern rockhopper is a subspecies of the southern rockhopper.) [ Gallery: Photos of 18 Penguin Species ] The smallest penguin species is the little (also called little blue) penguin. These birds grow to 10 to 12 inches (25.4 to 30.48 centimeters) tall and weigh only 2 to 3 lbs. (0.90 to 1.36 kilograms).

The largest penguin is the emperor penguin. It grows to 36 to 44 inches (91.44 to 111.76 cm) tall and weighs 60 to 90 lbs (27.21 to 40.82 kg). Where do penguins live? Considered marine birds, penguins live up to 80 percent of their lives in the ocean, according to the New England Aquarium . All penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, though it is a common myth that they all live in Antarctica. In fact, penguins can be found on every continent in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also a myth that penguins can only live in cold climates. The Galapagos penguin, for example, lives on tropical islands at the equator. What do penguins eat? Penguins are carnivores; they eat only meat. Their diet includes krill (tiny crustaceans), squid and fish. Some species of penguin can make a large dent in an area's food supply.

For example, the breeding population of Adélie penguins (about 2,370,000 pairs) can consume up to 1.5 million metric tons (1.5 billion kg) of krill, 115,000 metric tons (115 million kg) of fish and 3,500 metric tons (3.5 million kg) of squid each year, according to Sea World . The yellow-eyed penguin is very tenacious when foraging for food. It will dive as deep as 120 meters (393.70 feet) up to 200 times a day looking for fish, according to the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust . Mating & baby penguins A group of penguins is called a colony, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. During breeding season, penguins come ashore to form huge colonies called rookeries, according to Sea World. Most penguins are monogamous. This means that male and female pairs will mate exclusively with each other for the duration of mating season. In many cases, the male and female will continue to mate with each other for most of their lives.

For example, research has found that chinstrap penguins re-paired with the same partner 82 percent of the time and gentoo penguins re-paired 90 percent of the time. At around three to eight years old, a penguin is mature enough to mate. Most species breed during the spring and summer. The male usually starts the mating ritual and will pick out a nice nesting site before he approaches a female. After mating, the female emperor or king penguin will lay a single egg. All other species of penguins lay two eggs. The two parents will take turns holding the eggs between their legs for warmth in a nest. The one exception is the emperor penguin . The female of this species will place the egg on the male's feet to keep warm in his fat folds while she goes out and hunts for several weeks. When penguin chicks are ready to hatch, they use their beaks to break through the shell of their eggs. This process can take up to three days. After the chicks emerge, the parents will take turns feeding their offspring with regurgitated food. Penguin parents can identify their offspring by unique calls that the chick will make. Emperor penguins may migrate to find new nesting grounds.

Credit: Michelle LaRue penguin | bird order | Britannica.com bird order rockhopper penguin Penguin (order Sphenisciformes), any of 18 species of flightless marine birds that live only in the Southern Hemisphere. The majority of the 18 species live not in Antarctica but rather between latitudes 45° and 60° S, where they breed on islands. A few penguins inhabit temperate regions, and one, the Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), lives at the Equator . Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri). Michael C.T. Smith—The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers General features The stocky, short-legged appearance of penguins has endeared them to people worldwide.

They range from about 35 cm (14 inches) in height and approximately 1 kg (about 2 pounds) in weight, in the little blue , or fairy, penguin (Eudyptula minor) to 115 cm (45 inches) and 25 to 40 kg (55 to 90 pounds) in the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri). Most are black on the back and white below, often with lines of black across the upper breast or spots of white on the head. Colour is rare, being limited to red or yellow irises of the eye in some species; red beaks or feet in a few; yellow brow tufts in the three species of Eudyptes; and orange and yellow on the head, neck, and breast in the emperor and king (A. patagonica) penguins. Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) on the coast of southern … Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Heads of representative sphenisciforms. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The total populations of some species, such as the emperor, are estimated in the hundreds of thousands, but most species of smaller penguins certainly run into the millions. Immense island breeding colonies, some teeming with hundreds of thousands of nesting pairs, represent a large potential food resource, but the economic importance of penguins is negligible. Nineteenth-century whalers and seal hunters visited some colonies for meat and eggs, and a penguin oil industry once took large numbers of the birds. By the early 20th century, however, this exploitation was no longer profitable, and most colonies were left alone or actively protected. Some species are now increasing in numbers, apparently as a result of the mid-20th century’s decimation of Antarctic whales, which compete with penguins for the krill (minute crustaceans) on which both feed. Penguin populations, however, are highly vulnerable to changes in climate and ocean temperature, including recent global warming . Penguins also are very sensitive to depletion of local fish populations by humans. Magellan penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus).

Opium Wars Scientists have long wondered how penguins are able to find their way back to their colonies from far out at sea, where currents may have carried them great distances. Also perplexing is how they are able to direct themselves correctly on land in the absence of clear-cut landmarks. Studies of penguins transported to the interior of Antarctica have found that they are able to find their way back to the ocean by using the sun as a directional aid. It is probable that the same means of orientation is used at sea. Upon approaching the coast they are able to recognize features of the shoreline and ocean bottom. Food habits The type of food utilized varies with the species, the geographic region, and the time of year. Most of the smaller southern penguins feed primarily upon krill , which attain high densities in the rich, well-oxygenated Antarctic waters. Cephalopods (squid and cuttlefish) and small fishes may form substantial fractions of the food, and in a few, such as the Cape penguin, fish is the basic element of the diet. The total weight of food consumed by a large penguin colony is prodigious, often exceeding several tons per day. Form and function The penguins are highly specialized for their flightless aquatic existence.

The feet are located much farther back than those of other birds, with the result that the bird carries itself mostly upright; its walk can thus be described as plantigrade (i.e., on the soles). The sole comprises the whole foot instead of just the toes, as in other birds. The most notable characteristic of the group is the transformation of the forelimb into a paddle. This is accompanied by a body morphology particularly adapted to movement in a liquid medium. The thoracic (rib) cage is well developed, and the sternum bears a pronounced keel for the attachment of the pectoral muscles, which move the flippers . The flipper has the same skeletal base as the wing of flying birds but with its elements shortened and flattened, producing a relatively rigid limb covered with very short feathers—an ideal organ for rapid propulsion. The body plumage likewise consists of very short feathers, which minimize friction and turbulence. The density of the plumage and the layer of air that it retains provide almost complete insulation of the body. Insulation of the bird’s body is particularly important for Antarctic species that live in water that is always below 0 °C (32 °F).

The cooling power of seawater at −1.9 °C (28.6 °F) is equal to that of a temperature of −20 °C (−4 °F) with a wind of 110 km (70 miles) per hour. The skin is insulated by a layer of air trapped under the plumage, and the only bare skin in direct contact with the water is that of the feet. In the case of the emperor penguin on land, the feet are in almost constant contact with ice. The skin temperature is in the neighbourhood of 0 °C, and snow does not melt upon contact. This is possible because of remarkable anatomical arrangements in the lower limb, whereby closely adjacent arteries and veins form a system of heat exchange between opposing flows of blood. This arrangement permits cooled blood from the feet to absorb heat from outflowing blood, providing maximum economy of heat consistent with the functioning of the foot. Like other seabirds, penguins have salt glands that enable them to ingest salt from seawater. Excess chloride is excreted in the form of a solution the concentration of which is greater than that of seawater.

These glands are located above the eyes and are already functional in the young chick, which begins to consume food of marine origin from its first day of life. Recent research has shown that the species most isolated geographically, such as the emperor penguin , can be subject to diseases. Some, such as the Adélie penguin, carry in their bodies trace amounts of pollutants, albeit in lower quantities than are found in many birds that live closer to humans. Evolution and classification Fossil record Evidence from paleontology indicates that the penguins and the order Procellariiformes (albatrosses, shearwaters, and petrels) had a common origin. Both groups are represented by well-defined fossils dating to about 50 million years ago. The flightless sphenisciform line produced a number of distinctive side branches, all recognizably penguins, some giant in size. All of the fossil remains of penguins have been collected within the zone of the present-day distribution of the Sphenisciformes. Some apparently lived in warmer regions than do most of today’s penguins. Phylogenetic analysis of living and fossil penguins shows that the group evolved a large body size early in its history.

For example, two of the largest fossil penguins known— Icadyptes, which stood some 1.5 metres (about 5 feet) tall, and Anthropornis, which stood about 1.8 metres (6 feet) tall—date to the Eocene Epoch (56 million to 33.9 million years ago). Living penguins make up a separate lineage characterized by smaller, highly aquatic species that began about 8 million years ago. The comparatively small size of living penguins is thus a geologically recent phenomenon that postdates the original radiation of giant penguins. Classification Order Sphenisciformes (penguins) 18 species in 1 family (Spheniscidae) with 6 genera found in oceans of the Southern Hemisphere; wings flipperlike for propulsion underwater; webbed feet short and stout; stance upright; feathers short and dense, molted in patches; length 35–115 cm (14–45 inches); fossil forms to 180 cm (70 inches).

Genus Eudyptes ( crested penguins) penguin - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Seen from a distance, a colony of penguins might easily be taken for a group of little men. These sea birds stand erect and flat-footed and are often drawn up in long regular files like soldiers. They walk with a tread so stately and dignified that the sight is very comical. In the species known as the king penguin, the resemblance to man is heightened by the grayish-blue coat on the back. This is set off by black plumage on the head, a white breast, and a yellow "cravat" at the throat.

Article Contributors Penguin species: Emperor penguin, King penguin, Adelie, Rockhopper, Blue penguin, Macaroni, African (Jackass), Gentoo, Chinstrap, Little Blue (Fairy) / White-flippered, Erect-crested, Fjordland, Royal, Snares, Galapagos, Magellanic, Humboldt and Yellow-eyed You are here: Home > Information on penguins > Penguin species There are seventeen (17) penguin species in the world, classified into six (6) groups (genera). All of these species live in the southern hemisphere (below the equator). Penguin species differ in size, colors, habits and habitat. Species of penguins living more southerly (colder areas) tend to be larger than species living in warmer areas. Below is an overview of the seventeen species together with their lengths and weights. More data and penguin pictures will be added later.

Question: Emperor, Adelie and King are types of which bird?
Answer: Penguin